NEET 2026 Exam Pattern: All 180 Questions Compulsory — No Section A/B
NMC removed the Section A/B format. Here is everything you need to know about the new exam pattern.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has officially revamped the NEET (UG) 2026 exam pattern through a letter dated 05.12.2025. The biggest change? The Section A / Section B format has been completely removed. All 180 questions are now compulsory, and the exam duration has been set at a straight 3 hours (180 minutes) instead of the earlier 3 hours 20 minutes.
If you are preparing for NEET 2026, understanding this updated pattern is critical to your strategy. Let us break it down.
What Changed in NEET 2026?
The NMC communicated to NTA that the earlier two-section format — where Section A had 35 compulsory questions and Section B had 15 questions out of which 10 were to be attempted — was leading to confusion and inconsistent preparation. To bring clarity and uniformity, the commission directed the removal of optional questions entirely.
Key changes at a glance:
- All 180 MCQs are compulsory — no choice, no skipping sections
- Exam duration reduced to 3 hours (180 minutes) from the earlier 3 hours 20 minutes
- Total marks remain 720
- Marking scheme unchanged: +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Breakdown
| Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 |
| Biology (Botany + Zoology) | 90 | 360 |
| Total | 180 | 720 |
Biology carries the highest weightage with 90 questions worth 360 marks — exactly half of the total paper. Physics and Chemistry contribute equally with 45 questions each worth 180 marks.
Old Pattern vs New Pattern: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Old Pattern (2021-2025) | New Pattern (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Questions in Paper | 200 | 180 |
| Questions to Attempt | 180 | 180 (all compulsory) |
| Sections | Section A (35) + Section B (15, attempt 10) | No sections |
| Duration | 3 hours 20 minutes | 3 hours |
| Total Marks | 720 | 720 |
| Marking Scheme | +4 / -1 | +4 / -1 |
| Optional Questions | Yes (5 per subject) | No |
Why Did NMC Remove the Section A/B Format?
The two-section format introduced in 2021 was a response to COVID-era syllabus reductions. However, over time it created several issues:
- Strategic guessing — some students attempted all 15 questions in Section B and selected their best 10, wasting time
- Confusion — many students accidentally marked more than 10 in Section B, causing evaluation issues
- Unequal difficulty — if Section B questions in one set were easier than another, it created fairness concerns
By making all 180 questions compulsory, NMC has restored a straightforward, transparent exam structure.
Time Management Tips for the New 3-Hour Format
With 180 questions in 180 minutes, you get exactly 1 minute per question on average. Here is how to manage your time effectively:
- Biology first (if it is your strength): Allocate about 50-55 minutes for 90 questions. Many biology questions are direct recall and can be answered quickly.
- Chemistry next: Allocate about 45-50 minutes. Inorganic and organic chemistry questions often require less calculation.
- Physics last: Allocate 50-55 minutes. Physics typically has the most calculation-heavy problems.
- Buffer time: Keep the last 15-20 minutes for reviewing marked/doubtful questions.
- Do not spend more than 90 seconds on any single question in your first pass. Mark it and move on.
How This Affects Your Preparation
Since there are no optional questions, you cannot afford to skip any chapter or topic. Every question counts, and every topic is fair game. Here is what this means practically:
- Complete the entire syllabus — no topic is “safe to skip”
- Practice full-length 180-question mock tests under a strict 3-hour time limit
- Build speed and accuracy equally — with just 1 minute per question, you need both
- Revise NCERT thoroughly — most direct questions come from NCERT textbooks
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are all 180 questions compulsory in NEET 2026? A: Yes. The NMC removed the Section A/B format. All 180 MCQs must be attempted (though you can leave questions blank without penalty beyond missing the +4 marks).
Q: What is the exam duration for NEET 2026? A: The exam is 3 hours (180 minutes), from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM IST.
Q: Is the marking scheme still +4 and -1? A: Yes. You get +4 for every correct answer, -1 for every wrong answer, and 0 for unattempted questions.
Q: When was the Section A/B format removed? A: The NMC communicated the change to NTA via a letter dated 05.12.2025.
Q: Does this change affect the syllabus? A: No. The syllabus remains the same — based on NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks. Only the exam structure has changed.
Q: How many marks is NEET 2026 out of? A: The total marks remain 720 (180 questions x 4 marks each).
Start practicing with the updated pattern today. Use Mockx to take full-length 180-question mock tests under real exam conditions and build the speed you need for May 3, 2026.
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